Microsoft Imagine Cup Winners Champion Child Nutrition

The winning team Gatotkaca with Professor Achmad Jazidie, Institution and Collaboration Director of Ministry of National Education Indonesia.

Mrs Freddy Numberi with champions Gatotkaca and event participants.

The annual Microsoft Imagine Cup challenges more than 325,000 students from 142 countries to develop technologies that help solve the world’s toughest problems. In its ninth year, the premier student technology competition encourages talented young software developers to tackle globally persistent social and environmental issues.

Microsoft Imagine Cup 2011 Indonesia saw Team Gatotkaca from the Telkom Institute of Technology and Bandung Institute of Technology emerge victorious with a project to combat malnutrition among children. The ‘Childhood’ Project, available via a mobile phone app, allows users to access information on nutrition and healthy eating habits.

The development of the application was spurred by World Health Organization figures, which indicate that malnutrition remains responsible for 35 percent of deaths among children under age five. To educate parents and caregivers on children’s needs, the application provides access to information on the first signs of malnutrition. Pictures of children’s saliva taken by a mobile phone camera can also be analyzed by the application for signs of dehydration.

Team members Dody Qory Utam, Arganka Yahya, Kania Audrint and Anggunmeka Luhur Prasasti were exhilarated about winning first place and representing Indonesia in the Software Design category at the global finals, held 8-13 July in New York, USA. Team member Dody Qori Utam said they were proud to represent Indonesia at such an international event.

The delegates also captured the attention of Mrs Freddy Numberi, wife of the Minister of Transport and Communications and a member of Wives of Indonesian Cabinet (SIKIB). After reading about Gatotkaca in a national daily, Mrs Numberi met the team and is now looking for opportunities to implement the solution across local communities.

First runner-up Team Macara from the University of Indonesia also showcased their solution at the New York finals. Called EDCOS, their project puts forth an idea to use algae as a viable biodiesel fuel alternative to control carbon dioxide emissions.

Sutanto Hartono, President Director, Microsoft Indonesia said, "Indonesia needs these kinds of solutions and innovations. A key focus of Microsoft Imagine Cup is the development of practical applications for problems that persist across geographical boundaries. The winning team has taken that idea to heart and produced an application to be proud of.”

“A key focus of Microsoft Imagine Cup is the development of practical applications for problems that persist across geographical boundaries. The winning team has taken that idea to heart and produced an application to be proud of.”